1185 Words That Start with Y | Ultimate Vocabulary List

Words in English starting with Y are less common than many other letters, yet they carry unique sounds and meanings. From simple items like yak and yam to abstract ideas such as yearning or youthful, Y contributes a special flavor to the language.

This page presents a complete list of words that start with Y. Learners will discover nouns, verbs, foods, animals, and descriptive vocabulary that build stronger English word knowledge.

List of Words That Start with Y with Pictures

• Yak
• Yam
• Yarn
• Yard
• Yacht
• Yawn
• Yolk
• Yeti
• Yo-yo
• Yellow
• Youth
• Year
• Yule
• Yogurt
• Yoke
• Yucca
• Yodel
• Yeast
• Yahoo
• Yowl
• Yogi
• Yurt
• Yarrow
• Yuppie
• Yachting

Words by Length That Start with Y

Three Letter Y Words

• Yak
• Yam
• Yap
• Yar
• Yay
• Yew
• Yen
• Yep
• Yes
• You

Four Letter Words

• Yard
• Yarn
• Yawn
• Yell
• Yoke
• Yolk
• Yogi
• Yore
• Yule
• Yurt

Five Letter Words Beginning with Y

• Yacht
• Yearn
• Yeast
• Yield
• Young
• Youth
• Yodel
• Yippy
• Yipes
• Yabby

Read more five-letter words that start with Y to deepen your vocabulary.

Six Letter Words

• Yellow
• Yarrow
• Yuppie
• Yawner
• Yachter
• Yelper
• Yatter
• Yipped
• Yirked
• Yowled

Seven Letter Y Words

• Yawning
• Yachting
• Yearned
• Yestery
• Yeshiva
• Yanking
• Yachter
• Yuppies
• Yuletide
• Yachman

Eight Letter Words

• Yearling
• Yesterday
• Youngest
• Youthful
• Yachting
• Yardwork
• Yearbook
• Yardline
• Yearlong
• Yeomanry

Descriptive Words That Start with Y

Read more descriptive words that start with Y to enhance your vocabulary.

Positive Y Words

Youthful: Full of energy and freshness.
Yummy: Pleasant to taste.
Yearning: Strong desire or longing.
Yes-minded: Willing and agreeable.
Yielding: Flexible or accommodating.
Yare: Quick and ready.
Yenful: Having strong desire.
Yarely: Eager and lively.
Yesable: Easy to agree with.
Yippee: Expressing joy.

Nice Words

• Yay
• Yippee
• Yum
• Yes
• Yo
• Yummy
• Yare
• Yodel
• Young
• Yellow

Words to Describe Someone Beginning with Y

Youthful: Appearing young or fresh.
Yielding: Open to others’ ideas.
Yare: Quick and lively in spirit.
Yearning: Showing strong desire.
Yes-minded: Agreeable and supportive.
Yarely: Energetic and swift.
Yenful: Filled with desire.
Young-hearted: Staying cheerful at any age.
Yareful: Ready and careful.
Yenning: Always wanting more.

Adjectives

• Yellow
• Young
• Yummy
• Yearly
• Yonder
• Yawing
• Yapping
• Yielding
• Youthful
• Yare

Adverbs Starting with Y

• Yearly
• Yester
• Yonder
• Yawningly
• Youthfully
• Yarely
• Yesward
• Yesterday
• Yonderly
• Yesternight

Negative Y Words

Yucky: Disgusting or unpleasant.
Yellow-bellied: Cowardly.
Yawnful: Boring or tedious.
Yammering: Talking noisily or complaining.
Yobbish: Rude and uncouth.
Yawping: Making loud, coarse noises.
Yucky-minded: Vulgar or impure in thought.
Yearslong: Dull and dragging.
Yenless: Without ambition or desire.
Yowling: Crying or howling painfully.

Emotion Words

• Yearning
• Yippy
• Yowling
• Yucky
• Yawning
• Yare
• Yappy
• Youthful
• Yips
• Yikes

Comparative and Superlative Words

• Younger
• Youngest
• Yummier
• Yummiest
• Yearlier
• Earliest (archaic with y-form roots)
• Yarely → more yarely
• Yare → yarest
• Yonder → more yonder
• Yon → yonnest

Grammar Words That Start with Y

Nouns

• Yak
• Yam
• Yard
• Yarn
• Yacht
• Yawn
• Yoke
• Yolk
• Yurt
• Yew

Verbs

• Yell
• Yank
• Yawn
• Yelp
• Yearn
• Yield
• Yoke
• Yodel
• Yowl
• Yammer

Phrasal Verbs Beginning with Y

• Yank out
• Yank off
• Yearn for
• Yell at
• Yawn away
• Yield to
• Yoke together
• Yawn through
• Yammer on
• Yell back

Compound Nouns

• Yardstick
• Yearbook
• Youth club
• Yellow card
• Yule log
• Youth hostel
• Year-end
• Young adult
• Yellow fever
• Youth culture

Abstract Y Nouns

• Yearning
• Youth
• Yield
• Yesteryear
• Yesterday
• Yore
• Youngness
• Youthfulness
• Yesternight
• Yearhood

Everyday Words That Start with Y

Animals Beginning with Y

• Yak
• Yellowfin tuna
• Yellowtail fish
• Yellowhammer bird
• Yabby
• Yeti crab
• Yorkshire terrier
• Yellow mongoose
• Yellowjacket wasp
• Yucca moth

Read more animals that start with Y in English to strengthen vocabulary skills.

Birds

• Yellowhammer
• Yellow warbler
• Yellow wagtail
• Yellow-eyed penguin
• Yellowthroat
• Yellow-rumped parrot
• Yellow-shouldered blackbird
• Yellow grosbeak
• Yellow bittern
• Yellow kingfisher

Food Words That Start with Y

• Yam
• Yogurt
• Yeast
• Yiros (gyro)
• Yabby (delicacy in Australia)
• Yautia
• Yellowtail
• Yellowfin
• Yucca root
• Yabby pie

Fruits Beginning with Y

• Yunnan hackberry
• Yumberry
• Yangmei
• Youngberry
• Yellow passionfruit
• Yellow watermelon
• Yellow plum
• Yellow apple
• Yellow fig
• Yellow cherry

Vegetables

• Yam
• Yautia
• Yardlong bean
• Yellow squash
• Yellow corn
• Yukon gold potato
• Yellow beet
• Yellow zucchini
• Yellow carrot
• Yarrow leaves

Places Starting with Y

• Yemen
• Yorkshire
• Yukon
• Yerevan
• Yaoundé
• Yamagata
• Yogyakarta
• Yaroslavl
• Ypres
• Yunnan

Household Words

• Yard
• Yarn
• Yoke
• Yellow paint
• Yardstick
• Yucca plant
• Yellow soap
• Yellow sponge
• Yeast jar
• Yule log

Clothes Beginning with Y

• Yukata
• Yarmulke
• Yellow dress
• Yellow scarf
• Yellow socks
• Yoga pants
• Yellow belt
• Yellow shoes
• Yellow hat
• Yellow jacket

Tools

• Yardstick
• Yoke
• Yo-yo (toy tool)
• Yarn needle
• Yard brush
• Yarding hook
• Yard broom
• Yellow pliers
• Yard shears
• Y-fork spanner

Sports Y Words

• Yoga
• Yachting
• Yo-yo contest
• Youth football
• Youth baseball
• Youth basketball
• Youth cricket
• Youth league
• Youth Olympics
• Youth games

Jobs

• Yachtsman
• Yard worker
• Youth coach
• Youth counselor
• Yoga teacher
• Yarn spinner
• Yeoman
• Youth mentor
• Youth officer
• Youth leader

Plants Beginning with Y

• Yucca
• Yarrow
• Yellowwood
• Yellow birch
• Yellow poplar
• Yellow bells
• Yellow iris
• Yellowhorn
• Yellow-eyed grass
• Yellow jasmine

Colors

• Yellow
• Yellow-green
• Yellowish
• Yellow ochre
• Yellow beige
• Yellow-brown
• Yellow-tan
• Yellow-gold
• Yellow pearl
• Yellow rose

Body Parts That Start with Y

• Yolk sac
• Y-junction (nerve anatomy)
• Y-shaped cartilage
• Y-shaped ligament
• Y-shaped bone
• Y-protein chain (biology naming)
• Y chromosome
• Y-connector vein
• Y-artery branch
• Y fiber nerve

Slang Words Beginning with Y

Yo: Casual greeting.
Yup: Informal yes.
Yas: Exclamation of approval.
Yeet: Throw with force, or excitement word.
Yolo: You only live once.
Yikes: Expression of surprise.
Y’all: Informal for “you all.”
Yen: Craving or desire.
Yappy: Talkative or noisy.
Yowza: Exclamation of amazement.

Weapons

Yari: Japanese spear.
Yatagan: Ottoman short saber.
Yew bow: Bow made from yew wood.
Yawara: Japanese short stick weapon.
Yari-katana: Hybrid spear-sword.
Yataghan: Curved Turkish sword.
Yumi: Traditional Japanese bow.
Yellow powder: Old term for explosive sulfur.
Y-shaped slingshot: Small handheld weapon.
Yari-bo: Polearm variant.

Weather Words

Yearlong: Lasting through the year.
Yearly: Happening once a year.
Yule frost: Seasonal winter frost.
Yule snow: Snow of the Yuletide season.
Yellow fog: Thick, polluted fog.
Yellow rain: Toxic rainfall reported in wars.
Yazoo flood: Backwater flooding.
Yankee wind: Northeastern cold wind term.
Yard temperature: Outdoor yearly temp reading.
Yule storm: Winter holiday storm.

Academic Words That Start with Y

Biology Words Beginning with Y

Yeast: Single-celled fungi used in fermentation.
Yolk: Nutrient-rich part of an egg.
Yew: Evergreen tree with toxic seeds.
Yucca: Plant genus with sword-shaped leaves.
Yellowjacket: Stinging wasp species.
Yersinia: Bacteria genus causing plague and infections.
Yersiniosis: Foodborne infection by Yersinia.
Yautia: Edible root vegetable plant.
Yabby: Freshwater crayfish.
Yolk sac: Embryonic nutrient source.

Chemistry Y Words

Yttrium: Soft silver-metallic element (atomic number 39).
Ytterbium: Soft rare-earth metal (atomic number 70).
Yttria: Oxide of yttrium, used in ceramics.
Yellowcake: Uranium concentrate powder.
Ylide: Neutral molecule with opposite charges.
Yohimbine: Alkaloid used in medicine.
Yttriferous: Containing yttrium.
Yttrous: Relating to yttrium compounds.
Ytterbia: Oxide of ytterbium.
Yuanine: Rare organic compound.

Read more chemistry words that start with Q to deepen your scientific vocabulary.

Physics and Physical Science Words

Young’s modulus: Elasticity measure of materials.
Yield strength: Stress limit before permanent deformation.
Yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG): Synthetic crystal used in lasers.
Yagi antenna: Directional antenna for radio/TV.
Ytterbium laser: Solid-state laser using ytterbium.
Yoke circuit: Electrical coil in TVs.
Yield point: Stress at which material deforms.
Yardstick method: Physics measurement standard.
Yttrium iron garnet: Used in microwave filters.
Ytterbium fiber laser: High-efficiency optical laser.

Medical Words That Start with Y

Yellow fever: Viral disease spread by mosquitoes.
Yeast infection: Fungal infection caused by Candida.
Yaws: Tropical infection by Treponema.
Yolk sac tumor: Rare germ cell tumor.
Yttrium-90: Radioisotope used in cancer therapy.
Yersinia pestis: Plague-causing bacterium.
Yersiniosis: Infection causing diarrhea/fever.
Yoga therapy: Alternative health practice.
Yohimbine: Medicine for erectile dysfunction.
Yellow nail syndrome: Rare lymphatic disorder.

Technology Words

• Yahoo
• YouTube
• YAML
• Yottabyte
• Y2K
• Yandex
• Yagi antenna
• Yellow pages (digital)
• Yottahertz
• Y-cable

Geography Words Beginning with Y

• Yukon
• Yorkshire
• Yemen
• Yerevan
• Yaoundé
• Yunnan
• Yakutsk
• Yaroslavl
• Yamagata
• Yellowknife

Scientific Vocabulary

• Yield
• Yearlong
• Yearly
• Yonder
• Youngness
• Yesteryear
• Youthfulness
• Yore
• Yesternight
• Yen (as craving)

Law Terms Starting with Y

• Yield right (traffic law)
• Year-and-a-day rule
• Youth court
• Young offender
• Yearbook of law
• Youth sentencing
• Yoke of obligations
• Yarding rights
• Yield clause
• Youth protection act

Business Words

• Year-end
• Yield
• Yearly report
• Youth market
• Yard sale
• Yellow goods (durable equipment)
• Yuppie culture
• Y2K compliance
• Year-to-date
• Yardage costs

Psychology Words Beginning with Y

Yearning: Strong longing or desire.
Youthfulness: State of being young.
Yerkes-Dodson law: Performance improves with arousal up to a point.
Yin-yang balance: Concept in personality theories.
Yielding personality: Submissive character type.
Young adult stage: Developmental psychology phase.
Yale-Brown OCD scale: Measure for obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Yips: Sudden loss of motor skills in athletes.
Yawning reflex: Psychological and social contagion.
Yerkes study: Early IQ test research.

Literary Terms

• Yesteryear
• Yore
• Yarn (story)
• Young adult fiction
• Yearlong epic
• Yellow journalism
• Yesternight
• Youth poetry
• Yiddish literature
• Yuletide verse

Philosophy Words

Yin-Yang: Duality concept in Chinese philosophy.
Yoga: Discipline for body-mind union.
Yogic ethics: Moral codes in yoga philosophy.
Yugas: Cosmic ages in Hindu thought.
Yathartha: Reality in Indian philosophy.
Yojana: Measure of distance in Vedic texts.
Yathabhuta: “As it really is” in Buddhist philosophy.
Yesod: Foundation in Kabbalah.
Yetzirah: World of formation in Jewish mysticism.
Yoni: Symbol of feminine power in Hinduism.

Kids Words That Start with Y

Preschool Words

• Yak
• Yam
• Yes
• You
• Yo-yo
• Yellow
• Yawn
• Yum
• Yay
• Yip

Read more preschool words that start with Y to build strong early-reading skills.

Kindergarten Words Beginning with Y

• Yacht
• Yard
• Yarn
• Yolk
• Young
• Year
• Yell
• Yodel
• Yummy
• Yurt

Easy Words

• Yes
• You
• Your
• Yellow
• Yam
• Yak
• Yarn
• Yawn
• Yay
• Yum

Silent Y Words

Beyond: On the farther side.
Attorney: A person qualified to act for others in law.
Keyhole: Hole where a key is inserted.
Monkey: Animal with Y as final vowel sound.
Donkey: Domestic working animal.
Journey: Travel from one place to another.
Turkey: Large bird.
Valley: Low land between hills.
Abbey: Religious building.
Chimney: Passage for smoke from a fire.

Sight Words Starting with Y

• You
• Your
• Yes
• Yellow
• Year
• Yet
• Young
• Yesterday
• Yourself
• Yard

Ya Words

• Yam
• Yard
• Yawn
• Yak
• Yabby
• Yarrow
• Yashmak
• Yachtsman
• Yawnful
• Yachting

Ye Words Beginning with Y

• Yeast
• Year
• Yellow
• Yell
• Yen
• Yet
• Yew
• Yelper
• Yeoman
• Yearly

Yo Words

• Yo-yo
• Yolk
• Yodel
• Yogi
• Yoga
• Yon
• Yow
• Yonder
• Yowza
• Yolky

Yu Words Beginning with Y

• Yucca
• Yule
• Yummy
• Yuppie
• Yukon
• Yurt
• Yulelog
• Yugen (Japanese term)
• Yulefest
• Yuletide

Cartoon Characters That Start with Y

• Yogi Bear
• Yoshi (Mario)
• Yakko (Animaniacs)
• Yasmin (Bratz)
• Yellow Ranger (Power Rangers)
• Yeti (Monsters Inc.)
• Yzma (Emperor’s New Groove)
• Yo Gabba Gabba (character)
• Yendor (cartoon wizard)
• Yip Yips (Sesame Street)

Animal Sounds

• Yak grunt
• Yellowhammer call
• Yappy dog bark
• Yowling cat cry
• Yelping puppy
• Yipping coyote
• Yowza exclamation
• Yodeling goat
• Yelping seal
• Yawn sigh

Advanced Words That Start with Y

SAT Y Words

Yearn: To long strongly for something.
Yield: To give way under pressure or produce.
Yoke: To join or connect together.
Yen: A deep desire or craving.
Yonder: At some distance in the direction indicated.
Yore: Time long past.
Youthful: Having the freshness of youth.
Yenful: Filled with desire.
Yowl: To cry out loudly in pain.
Yesteryear: A time in the past.

Rare Words Beginning with Y

Yclept: Called or named (archaic).
Yesternight: The night before today (archaic).
Yaffingale: Old name for a green woodpecker.
Yestermorn: Morning of yesterday (archaic).
Yapon: Shrub also called yaupon holly.
Yare: Ready or prepared.
Yatagan: Curved Turkish sword.
Yashmak: Veil traditionally worn by Muslim women.
Yaffle: Loud call of a woodpecker.
Yegg: Safecracker or burglar (slang, old).

Unusual Words

Yarely: With quick readiness.
Yawp: To cry or complain loudly.
Yawl: A type of sailing boat.
Yazoo: Tributary stream running parallel to a river.
Yowie: Mythical Australian creature like Bigfoot.
Yabber: To talk quickly and noisily.
Yahrzeit: Jewish anniversary of a death.
Yuga: A cosmic age in Hindu philosophy.
Yomp: Long-distance march by soldiers.
Yaffle: Archaic word for eating noisily.

Scrabble Words Starting with Y

• Ya
• Ye
• Yo
• Yew
• Yen
• Yep
• Yap
• Yum
• Yip
• Yow

Spelling Bee Words

Yttrium: Metallic chemical element.
Ytterbium: Rare-earth metallic element.
Yttria: Oxide of yttrium.
Yugen: Japanese concept of profound beauty.
Yowie: Mythical Australian cryptid.
Yahrzeit: Anniversary of a death in Judaism.
Yautia: Tropical root crop.
Yohimbine: Alkaloid used in medicine.
Yoni: Symbol of feminine energy in Hinduism.
Yukata: Traditional Japanese robe.

Archaic Y Words

Yon: That or those over there.
Yea: Yes; also an affirmative vote.
Yclept: Called or named.
Yestreen: Yesterday evening.
Yestermorn: Morning of yesterday.
Yond: Over there (archaic).
Yare: Ready or brisk.
Ywis: Certainly; surely.
Yesterweek: The week before last.
Yestermonth: The month before the current one.

Hard Vocabulary Words

Yottabyte: One septillion bytes of data.
Ylem: Hypothetical matter from the Big Bang.
Yuga: Vast epoch in Hindu cosmology.
Yen: Intense desire.
Yegg: Burglar or safecracker.
Yarmulke: Skullcap worn in Jewish tradition.
Yashmak: Traditional veil.
Yttriferous: Containing yttrium.
Ytterbia: Oxide of ytterbium.
Yuppie: Young upwardly mobile professional.

Seasonal and Foreign Words That Start with Y

Christmas Words Beginning with Y

• Yule
• Yuletide
• Yule log
• Yule tree
• Yule feast
• Yule fire
• Yule tide song
• Yule cake
• Yule bell
• Yule night

Yule and Yuletide Words

• Yuletide carols
• Yuletide cheer
• Yuletide season
• Yuletide gifts
• Yuletide festival
• Yuletide greetings
• Yuletide joy
• Yuletide candles
• Yuletide meal
• Yuletide prayers

Thanksgiving Words

• Yam
• Yam pie
• Yam casserole
• Yam pudding
• Yam rolls
• Yam bread
• Yam dish
• Yam soup
• Yam bake
• Yam side

Japanese Y Words

• Yakitori
• Yukata
• Yakuza
• Yugen
• Yumi (bow)
• Yari (spear)
• Yokan (sweet bean jelly)
• Yamanote (Tokyo area)
• Yabai (slang, cool/dangerous)
• Yurei (ghost)

Spanish Words Starting with Y

• Yegua (mare)
• Yerba (herb)
• Yerno (son-in-law)
• Yema (yolk)
• Yacimiento (deposit)
• Yate (yacht)
• Yo (I)
• Ya (already)
• Yerno político (brother-in-law)
• Yerbabuena (mint)

Greek Words

• Ygeia (health)
• Yia yia (grandmother)
• Ypnos (sleep)
• Ypogeios (underground)
• Ypopsi (candidate)
• Ypnosia (hypnosis)
• Ypourgós (minister)
• Ypónoia (suspicion)
• Ypnos pathisi (sleep disorder)
• Ypothesis (hypothesis)

Holidays and Festivals Beginning with Y

• Yule
• Yam Festival (Africa)
• Yalda (Persian solstice festival)
• Youth Day
• Yom Kippur
• Yom HaShoah
• Yom Ha’atzmaut
• Yom Teruah
• Yom HaZikaron
• Yom Yerushalayim

Reference for Words That Start with Y

One Syllable Y Words

• Yak
• Yam
• Yap
• Yar
• Yay
• Yen
• Yep
• Yes
• You
• Yew

Two Syllable Words

• Yellow
• Yodel
• Yuppie
• Yonder
• Yodeler
• Yodeling
• Yummy
• Yo-yo
• Yoda
• Yarrow

Rhyming Words Beginning with Y

• Yak – Back, Track, Sack
• Yam – Jam, Slam, Ram
• Yap – Map, Cap, Nap
• Yay – Day, Say, Way
• Yen – Hen, Ten, Pen
• Yes – Guess, Press, Dress
• You – Blue, True, Glue
• Yew – Few, New, Crew
• Yoke – Joke, Smoke, Broke
• Yore – More, Shore, Store

Homophones

• You – Yew – Ewe
• Yore – Your – You’re
• Yolk – Yoke
• Ya – Yah
• Yon – Yawn (in some dialects)
• Yay – Yea
• Yen – Yin (near homophone in accents)
• Yoo (sound) – You
• Yo – Yoh
• Yer – Your

Synonyms Starting with Y

• Young – Youthful, Juvenile
• Yummy – Delicious, Tasty
• Yearning – Desire, Longing
• Yield – Produce, Provide
• Yawn – Gape, Open-mouth
• Yell – Shout, Cry
• Yucky – Disgusting, Gross
• Yare – Quick, Ready
• Yowling – Crying, Screaming
• Yippee – Hurrah, Hooray

Collocations

• Yellow card
• Yellow fever
• Yellow pages
• Yearly report
• Youth culture
• Youth hostel
• Youth club
• Yard sale
• Yield sign
• Young man

Chart of 100 Common Words That Begin with Y

Yak	Yam	Yarn	Yard
Yacht	Yawn	Yolk	Year
Yellow	Yes	You	Young
Yeti	Yo-yo	Yum	Yay
Yuppie	Yodel	Yip	Yelp
Yield	Youth	Yule	Yonder
Yummy	Yoke	Yogi	Yucca
Yarrow	Yawp	Yowl	Yippee
Yclept	Yore	Yon	Yesteryear
Yesternight	Yestreen	Yule log	Yuletide
Ytterbium	Yttrium	Yttria	Yellowfin
Yellowtail	Yellowhammer	Yabby	Yaffle
Yapon	Yashmak	Yatagan	Yari
Yumi	Yakuza	Yukata	Yokan
Yugen	Yoda	Yahrzeit	Yowie
Yomp	Yawnful	Yobbish	Yestermorn
Yegg	Yelper	Yeoman	Yeomanry
Yachting	Yearbook	Yearling	Yearlong
Youthful	Yearning	Yawned	Yowza
Yawningly	Yowling	Yelled	Yipping
Yawning	Yestery	Yellowish	Yesterweek
Youngster	Youthhood	Youthwork	Youngness
Yestermonth	Yesterday	Yesternoon	Yesterhour
Yugas	Yoni	Yojana	Yathartha

FAQs on Words That Start with Y